The government of Abia state has denied report circulating on the social media platform accusing the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of ordering men of the Nigeria Army to open gun fire on members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), protesting against the continuous detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement signed by Mr Godwin Adindu, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Abia government explained that, “We want to state that since the regime of the mass protest by IPOB/MASSOB, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has continued to sue for peace and has personally commended both the IPOB leaders and the security agencies on their mutuality of understanding in handling the protest which has ensured that the street matches never resulted in any open violence.”

“As the Chief Security Officer of the state,” Dr. Ikpeazu, the statement disclosed, “is responsible for law and order in the state and also responsible for protecting the lives and property of every citizenry in Abia State.

“He has lived out this responsibility both in his personal disposition and in his public conduct as the governor of the state. His message to the youths has always been that they conduct themselves within the ambit of the law and in a manner that would not cause a breach of public peace.

“It must also be noted that Governor Ikpeazu does not have the powers to order or mobilize the Armed Forces to shoot at any group. The Army takes its orders directly from the military high command and the Federal Government. The Army exist to protect the territorial integrity of the country and wade off any external aggression and only intervene when there is a high level of threat to peace and breakdown of law and order.”

Abia State Government stressed that, “While the Governor regrets any confrontation between the IPOB members and the security agencies which may have resulted in violence today, he is also using the medium to appeal to the good people of the state and particularly the youths of Aba to give peace a chance and desist from actions that will lead to further violence.

“Abia is a peaceful state and we all must protect and cherish our heritage of a peaceful and comfortable state.”